Before setting a financial goal, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your current financial situation, including income, debt, expenses and assets. Once you have a clear understanding of your current financial situation, you can start setting financial goals that align with your values and priorities. Here are six steps to set and achieve your financial goals. Define your financial goals Set both short- and long-term financial goals as your first step. Your objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). One’s short-term objectives might be, for instance, saving $500 for an emergency fund or paying off …

Universities in the United Kingdom have started offering cutting-edge research programs, courses and practical experience in various aspects of blockchain technology, including cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, privacy, security and scalability. Students who graduate from these programs will be well-equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders in the field of blockchain technology and drive innovation and adoption in various industries. Here are top five universities to study blockchain in the United Kingdom. University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, and its Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) is a leading research …

Can Bitcoin help Black Americans build wealth in a country that has historically and intentionally prevented them from doing so? The Agenda podcast recently sat down with Najah Roberts, a Bitcoin educator and entrepreneur, to explore the question. In Part 1 of the conversation, released on Feb. 1, Roberts told hosts Jonathan DeYoung and Ray Salmond that Bitcoin (BTC) might be the greatest opportunity Black Americans have had to close the country’s wealth gap. She stressed the importance of communities having financial sovereignty and control over their own money, which can help uplift entire generations. In Part 2 of their …

A book once slated to be released by Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO and founder of the bankrupt cryptocurrency lender Celsius, has been pulled before it could ever hit the shelves and the publisher of the title is trying to "remove all trace of it online." The Mashinsky Method: The Decentralized Path to Financial Freedom was the name of an upcoming financial literacy book by Alex Mashinsky with a tentative release date set for sometime in June. It promised to teach his "7-step method" on "how to protect your assets and how to create compounding yield [...] Using stablecoins and …

Over the last 14 years, investors got attracted to Bitcoin (BTC) for many reasons— from fixing a flawed fiat economy and reaching the unbanked to diversifying portfolios. However, a large portion of the general public sees Bitcoin as a gateway to financial freedom amid growing fiat inflation and geopolitical uncertainties. Traditional banking systems have, time and again, served as a tool for centralized governments to dictate financial access, especially during dire situations. Most recently, the Ukraine-Russian war served as a case study for how cryptocurrencies helped the displaced and the unbanked access funds for basic necessities. As intended by the …

If you ask 10 people what Bitcoin’s original purpose is, at least one person will say it’s meant to cut out the middleman, reduce the cost of transacting and empower those who might not have access to modern financial infrastructure. While all of those boxes might be ticked, another phenomenon of financial technology, and technology in general, is that not everyone benefits equally from the revolutionary change it brings. Of course, this happens for a variety of unique reasons, some intentional and others unintentional, but the phenomenon of technological change leaving some people behind presents a rather unique question. How …

Accessibility is a pain point for cryptocurrency adoption that has been discussed for years, yet still, it is pertinent as ever. This issue was most recently recognized by the United States government as we’ve seen Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen discuss during her remarks on digital assets policy and regulation. There are barriers that are limiting accessibility to cryptocurrencies, such as financial education and technological resources, and it is our duty as developers and leaders in this revolutionary industry to address them. Studies have shown that only 33% of adults across the globe are financially literate. With many projects in the …

A study from the Bank of Canada found that Bitcoiners surveyed, on average, have lower financial literacy than those who don’t own Bitcoin (BTC). The study was compiled from four years of annual surveys from 2016 to 2020, with the sample sizes ranging anywhere from 1,987 to 3,893 respondents. The Bank of Canada’s full study titled “Bitcoin Awareness, Ownership and Use: 2016-20” was published on Tuesday. A key conclusion from the study was that: “Bitcoin owners displayed greater knowledge about the Bitcoin network than nonowners, yet they scored lower on questions testing financial literacy.” However, the financial literacy testing was …

The Bank for International Settlements, or BIS, released a paper Tuesday on central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, and how they can be used to meet policy goals for financial inclusion. The paper drew on interviews conducted in the second half of last year at nine central banks that are currently exploring retail CBDCs. It looked common goals across a range of economic development levels and challenges to inclusion. The paper identified two distinct approaches to CBDC. Some central banks saw digital currency as a catalyst for innovation and development, while others expected it to serve as a complement to …

According to a recent survey published by Investopedia, 28% of U.S. millennials polled said they expect to use cryptocurrency to support themselves in retirement — a figure which was higher than those who said they would use savings (25%) and stock investments (27%) to fund their retirement. Meanwhile, 20% of Gen X and 17% of Gen Z respondents said the same. The survey, conducted in spirit of Financial Literacy Month, consisted of 4,000 U.S. adults ages 18 to 76. In other fields, approximately 50% of respondents of all ages rated their financial knowledge in consumption, paying taxes, savings, debt management, …

Pashtana Durrani, the founder of an organization working to make education available to women and girls across Afghanistan as the country remains under Taliban rule, said the Islamic fundamentalist group has poor financial literacy, especially when it comes to crypto. In a Wednesday interview with political commentator Tommy Vietor from Pod Save the World, LEARN Afghanistan founder Pashtana Durrani said the international community — particularly the United States — should consider removing the sanctions imposed on Afghanistan and unfreezing funds controlled by foreign governments. According to Durrani, limiting foreign aid to Afghanistan through nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other entities gives …